Lyric names interim chorus director

Lyric Opera has appointed Ian Robertson, chorus director of the San Francisco Opera, guest chorus master for the remainder of the season while the company continues to search for a permanent chorus director.

Robertson will serve as guest chorus master for the Lyric productions of Puccini’s “La Boheme” (running January-March), Wagner’s "Die Meistersinger" (February-March) and Verdi’s “Rigoletto” (February-March). He will remain at Lyric through the late-February dress rehearsal of “Rigoletto” before returning to his duties in San Francisco.

The Scottish-born Robertson has been chorus director and conductor with the San Francisco Opera since 1987, having prepared more than 275 productions for the company, and also led the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus in numerous concerts. His other North American opera credits include productions with Sarasota Opera, Edmonton Opera in Canada and Philadelphia’s Curtis Opera Theatre.

Before joining the San Francisco Opera, he was head of music and chorus director of the Scottish Opera.

Since the abrupt resignation of former Lyric chorus master Martin Wright in November, after only 3½ months on the job, Lyric music staff members Philip Morehead and Valerie Maze have overseen the company’s choral activities. Donald Palumbo, who left as Lyric chorus master in 2007 to become chorus master of the Metropolitan Opera, recently came in for a day to lead “Meistersinger” rehearsals.

Michael Black was in charge of choral preparation for Lyric’s 2011-12 season.